What's worse for your opponent than blowing up all the creatures on the battlefield with a Fated Retribution, Merciless Eviction, or Supreme Verdict? Why, getting rid of only their creatures and then attacking unopposed for the win. Meet Extinguish All Hope from Wizards of the Coast's expert "Magic: The Gathering" set "Journey Into Nyx."

Extinguish All Hope - 4BBSorcery (Rare)Destroy all nonenchantment creatures.Phenax offers the hope of life, while Pharika grants the solace of death. Between them stands Erebos, who promises nothing but eternity.

Abusing Extinguish All Hope is simple, just run a healthy amount of enchantment creatures. The downside is that since the "Theros" block is packed fill with them, there's a decent chance your rival will have one or two threats still kicking around after the world goes "Boom!" There's several competitive enchantment creatures to worry about such as Herald of Torment, Courser of Kruphix, and Boon Satyr. Let's just hope that's your Chromanticore on the battlefield.

Although Extinguish All Hope might not be the strongest Wrath of God effect in Standard, one only needs to look to commander where there's very few enchantment creatures running around. It's not Damnation, however Extinguish All Hope can be less mana intensive than Black Sun's Zenith.

Share this article

David Leavitt has been playing Magic: The Gathering since Unlimited. He's helped run two major Magic websites: MtgNews and MtgSalvation. Designer of the Tempest theme deck Forest Fire, David QA'd the original Magic Online client and multiple sets thereafter. He's won thousands of dollars in Magic product competing in local tournaments across Massachusetts. He also writes a gaming column. You may contact him at DavidLeavitt@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.